99th
Paris-Roubaix (CDM)

France, April 15, 2001

Domo-nation

Domo Farm-Frites was supposed to be a talent laden classics super
team. Last summer, Mapei-Quick Step manager Patrick Lefevre announced
that he and his Belgian band would get a divorce from Mapei and start
a new team with Belgian carpet maker Domo. Johan Museeuw, who was slated
to be team leader, suffered a terrible leg injury in a motorcycle crash
in the summer and there were doubts whether he would ride again. Lefevre
then brought on second sponsor Farm Frites last fall, but had to have
a delicate operation last November. Museeuw worked hard at his rehabilitation
and training, but was still a major question mark. All this tumult made
the off-season transition from Mapei to Domo tense difficult and as
a result, Domo Farm-Frites got off to a slow start.

Lefevre simply wasn't happy with the early results; he told the media
that "we aren't winning enough ", but on Easter Sunday at Paris-Roubaix,
the real Domo Farm-Frites, the classics superchief cycling watchers
were waiting for showed up. In fact, they did so in spades, going 1-2-3
to take all the podium spots and four out of the top 5 in the 99th edition
of Paris-Roubaix, the most esteemed single day race in the sport of
road cycling!

After P-R, Lefevre told L'Equipe that "Domo Farm-Frites showed the
way all day. It was about time; before the start I told the team that
Johan and I had suffered a lot in the last few months and today it was
time for us to show our stuff."

While USPS rider George Hincapie had another excellent ride at Paris-Roubaix,
his lack of teammates hurt his chances for a win. Hincapie said he could
do nothing against the Domo men. "They rode a great race; always strong
and up front."

This year's P-R was designed to be tougher; 18 km shorter at 254.5
km with less pavé overall, but more cobbles in the second half. Torrential
spring rains actually flooded the new pavé sections placed before the
Arenberg Forest to make P-R race more selective, but local firemen moved
in with the pumpers to clear the fearsome cobbles before race day.

Easter Sunday dawned wet and windy for the start in Compiegne, with
197 starters heading north to Roubaix. The strong tailwind kicked things
off with a bang at 50 km/h and as the rain stopped and the weather began
to clear, the battle lines were drawn as the peloton approached the
Somme River. Unlike 1914, no shots were fired but after numerous attacks,
a group of six formed and began to gain ground on the main group. By
the time the fugitive sextet hit the first cobblestones at Troisvilles
their lead was just under 5'00 on the earnestly chasing peloton.

The overnight rain and weeks of bad weather had turned the bumpy,
winding cobbled farm lanes into a gooey, slippery sticky mess that immediately
covered the riders with a coating of mud. "These are the worst (pavé)
conditions I've ever seen," said race boss J-F Pescheux of the Societe
du Tour De France, and certainly the toughest since '94, when heavy
rains turned Paris-Roubaix into a major mud bath. These extreme conditions
had an immediate impact on the race; slowing the break and causing the
peloton to split in three parts, with a crucial counter attack of 11
riders led by flamboyant Philippe Gaumont (Cofidis) and Wilfred Peeters
(Domo-FF) driving the pace.

The conditions were so extreme that after only four sections of pavé,
with 140 km still to race to the velodrome finish, the character of
the 2001 Paris-Roubaix was forged; the main selection was made and it
was clear that it would be an epoch race. The reason why they call a
classic a classic.

As three time winner Johan Museeuw (Domo-FF) bridged up with George
Hincapie at St. Python, joining his three teammates in the chase, pre-race
favorite Andrei Tchmil (Lotto-Addeco) crashed hard on the second pave
section and was desperately chasing almost three minutes behind. The
chase group began to grow as more riders desperate to join the move
of the day forced their way to the front.

Domo's arch-rivals from Mapei, former winner Franco Ballerini, riding
his last race was dropped from the counter attackers, while Andrea Tafi,
another former winner from Mapei was chasing in a group almost 2'00
behind. Museeuw became the general up front; driving his Domo-FF guys
and the other 12 riders forward, pulling back the break on the next
sector of pavé and preparing to launch Phase 2 of the Domo-FF battle
plan as the dreaded 2400 meter Arenberg Forest pavé approached.

In front of a huge, roaring crowd, Museeuw sent the rangy figure of
his faithful lieutenant Peeters over the top, in pursuit of the courageously
attacking Hincapie into the tree lined trench of Arenberg, perhaps the
poorest excuse for a road in bike racing. Behind Peeters, Gaumont's
rear wheel slipped and the French rider crashed heavily on the dangerous
cobbles, breaking his right femur and opening a huge gap between Peeters
and the rest of the chasers. When George punctured just ahead, 37 year
old Wilfy passed him and never looked back; after all, it was his last
Paris-Roubaix and like a dray horse turned throughbred, he took the
bit in his teeth and headed to Roubaix, 89 km and 12 pavé sections away.

Despite his numerous punctures, General Museeuw stayed calm and let
his Domo boys rule the roost. Loyal lieutenant Peeters was up the road,
giving the 3 other Domo's a major advantage. For more than an hour,
the frantic chase behind Peeters blew the competition out the back,
while Domo controlled the action like a well-oiled team machine. Big
Wilfy powered solo over the cobbles, showing his class and experience
to the max.

Eventually, powerful, tough riding from Hincapie, Wesemann, Dierckxsens
and Cofidis duo Mattan and Peers, and bonk began to chew up the 1'00
advantage of Peeters. With 25km to race, Domo was still firmly in control,
but Hincapie decided to test the status quo. His acceleration at Cysoing
on pavé sector 5 reeled back the fading Peeters to 15"; the Domo man
was now in sight of the chasers.

Peeters held on to his lead, but suddenly, Paris-Roubaix dealt another
card. This time it wasn't a good one for Domo. Museeuw had his 5th puncture
of the day at pavé sector 3 (Carrefour de l'Arbre), while a surging
Mattan fell and lost contact. Vainsteins and Knaven were still up front,
but they had only Hincapie and Diercksens to contend with. As the pave
ended, it was echappee terminee and Peeters immediately went out the
back as Diercksens hammered on the front, although Van Bon and Weseman
had also gone.

The drama played out behind as General Museeuw made an incredible
5 km chase behind to get back to the front of the race. Along the way
he caught Peeters, who made a huge effort to cling to his teammate's
wheel. Both riders made it back with 12 km to go and Domo had once again
taken control of the race with their powerful, savvy team riding.

Now Domo launched Phase 3: attack. Knaven was their secret weapon,
a classy amateur rider and former Dutch pro road and TT champion who
had never realized his true potential as a pro after 8 years with TVM
and Farm Frites. But under the command of General Museeuw, the 30 year
old Knaven has become a new man. His off-season training for agility
and quickness on a 'cross bike had paid off, as he has never before
made it so far in the front group in P-R. With Lefevre's Domo team philosophy
of the team win, it didn't matter if Museeuw won a third P-R, what was
important was that the team won.

Knaven went with 10km to go and although Hincapie followed, the Dutchman
was flying. In only 3 km, Knaven quickly gained 25". Museeuw eventually
powered away from the chase and in front of the roaring crowd in the
Roubaix velodrome, Knaven and the General rode home to a 1-2 finish.
The icing on the Domo-FF cake was Roman Vainsteins, who took the sprint
for 3rd ahead of Hincapie and traded his World Champ jersey for the
World Cup leader's tunic.

After their slow start, Domo-Farm Frites showed their true colors
in the toughest classics battle of all; Paris-Roubaix. They won the
war and they won the day. After the last few years of uproar in pro
cycling with doping scandals, accusations of being out of touch with
today's fans, sponsor problems et al, Patrick Lefevre and his Domo Farm
Frites team showed at this year's Paris-Roubaix that not only is professional
road cycling alive and well, but it can even be a thrilling world class
spectacle.

Knaven wins Paris-Roubaix

By Gerard Knapp

Servais
"winners are grinners" Knaven
crosses the line

It was a triumph of the strongest team at the 99th Paris-Roubaix, with
Dutch rider Servais Knaven bringing home the win for Patrick Lefevre
and the Domo-Farm Frites team, with Johan Museeuw (Bel) taking second
and reigning World Champion Romans Vainsteins (Lat) filling out the
podium for the new Belgian squad.

The 99th edition of the Hell of the North lived up to its name as the
riders set off in pouring rain and encountered pave of the muddiest
and most slippery kind. Flooding in previous weeks had left a good coating
of mud on the cobbles, which was further prepared for action by an overnight
storm.

Domo
riders took all three
podium places

Even with Domo riders puncturing, there were still enough in the lead
group to ensure there would be at least three riders for the finale.
It was a repeat of Lefevre's total control of this race when he was
managing Mapei's Belgian squad, as he had four riders in the leading
group for up to 150 kilometres.

Leading the Domo pack was Belgian Wilfired Peeters, who launched an
attack with 90km to go and behind him, any serious chasing was thwarted
by the constant surveillance and marking by the Domo riders, including
Museeuw, Knaven and Vainsteins. Peeters stretched his lead to well over
a minute, but the cobbles began to take their toll.

Knaven
leads Peeters

Only 14km from the finish in Roubaix, Peeters was finally caught, which
signalled the start of constant attacks by the other Domo riders. Within
the leading group, US Postal's George Hincapie (USA) and Ludo Dierckxsens
(Bel) Lampre-Daikin were the ham in the Domo sandwich.

After the race, a disappointed Hincapie said "Domo had a super
team. And what they did is normal tactics. I'm a little disappointed,
because I felt very strong today. I hope one day I can win."

Dierckxsens said afterwards "the Domo's were so strong. I was
alone, the same as Hincapie and Wesemann. I think Hincapie was the strongest,
but you can forget it with such a Domo-clan. I had superlegs, like last
week in the Ronde van Vlaanderen".

As for other pre-race favourite Andre Tchmil, a fall in the pave put
an end to his chances, although he put in a super effort in the final
100km. "I fell and couldn't follow anymore. Please stop this interview
because I'm so cold," he said, before heading off to the showers.

A full report with many additional pictures from the race will follow
soon.